Buffalo Bills News - October 18, 2001

Hard work keeps paying off for Payne [5:27 AM]D and C reports:
'Life is good for the young man from Victor who starred at Cornell University and is now carving out a nice little career for himself in the NFL.'

Scouting report [5:27 AM]D and C reports:
'This is the Bills' first visit to Jacksonville for a regular-season game. It is the only NFL city they hadn't played in.'

Going in different directions [5:26 AM]Florida Times Union reports:
'Donahue drafted 12 players and the Bills kept 11, a stark contrast to the Jaguars, who drafted 10 and kept five. The Bills, though, are paying a price for their youth. They're 0-4. That is why rebuilding is not popular in Jacksonville.'

Travis Henry #4 in Rookie of year meter [3:13 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
4. Travis Henry, RB, Buffalo Bills
Season Stats: 70-240-1 Sunday: Bye
Stock: STEADY
Henry rushed for 113 yards his last time out and has a chance to duplicate that performance Thursday against a Jacksonville defense that allowed 176 yards rushing its last time out.
Henry has been solid considering the offensive line?s poor job of opening holes, though he is averaging only one catch per game. That?s poor for the starting RB in a West Coast offense.

Pat Williams rated #4 run stuffer [3:10 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
4. Pat Williams / Bills ? "There was no drop-off when Washington went out last year and Williams came in."
[Ex-Buffalo Bill Ted Washington is #1]

Flutie fans in western New York have reached mania stage [3:04 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
Some would say that Johnson is what’s in the water, while other Bills fans would say that’s where they’d like to throw him. They claim that Flutie would have this Bills team with a better record than 0-4.

That’s why I call this a mania. There is absolutely no guarantee that the diminutive miracle worker from Boston College would have done a better job had he been kept by the Bills instead of Johnson. But these cries from Flutie fans are nothing new.

Jacksonville mayor complains against blackouts [2:58 PM]ESPN reports:
The mayor of Jacksonville, John Delaney, has written letters to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Florida legislators in an effort to get the league to revise its blackout policy. The Jaguars experienced their first-ever TV blackout this season and expect that the game versus the Bills in Week 6 will also be banned from being shown on television in Jacksonville because it won't be a sellout.

Rookie CB Williams, Bills 6th round pick, added to 49ers roster [2:25 PM]ESPN reports:
Jimmy Williams, 22, was a sixth-round draft choice of the Bills this spring, the 196th player selected overall. He was the only player drafted by the Bills who did not make the roster, but the club attempted to retain his rights by signing him to the practice squad.
He declined the Bills' offer to sign instead with the 49ers PS, in part because of the presence of former Vanderbilt teammate Jamie Winborn, a LB with the 49ers. The two, both represented by agent Terry Bolar, now are roommates.

Tom Donahoe's Weekly Bills Update [9:35 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
"Right to the end, to the onside kick, we thought we had a chance to win the game. That's one thing you want to get out of your players. If you can get 60 minutes of effort from your players every week that you play, you're going to have a chance to win some games. The effort has to be there, and if it's not there, 11 players all out on every player, you're not good enough to win in this league."

Bills looking to get Riemersma into the flow [9:01 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"It's difficult for me to get in the flow of the game when I'm checking protection and releasing to the flat, which I seem to be doing a lot in this offense," Riemersma said after the Bills' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. "We've got to find a way to free the release guys and get rid of the ball quicker. Bottom line."'

Johnson's moment with Jaguars remains his brightest [5:31 AM]AP reports:
'Indeed, life hasn't been nearly as good for Johnson since he started the 1997 season opener for Jacksonville in place of the injured Mark Brunell and threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-27 win. The performance led to his trade to the Bills -- Jacksonville got a first- and fourth-round pick -- and a five-year, $25 million contract when he arrived.'

Bills still waiting for TE to break out [5:24 AM]D and C reports:
'...Jay Riemersma is still waiting for his opportunity to become a major contributor to the Buffalo Bills offense. The sixth-year tight end has been told in each of the last two training camps that he would be a prime receiving target in Buffalo's passing offense, yet he has spent the majority of his time helping the Bills' perpetually weak offensive line protect quarterback Rob Johnson.'

No hiding Coughlin's drive for success [5:23 AM]D and C reports:
'As for Coughlin, who earns $2.5 million a year as one of the league's most successful coaches, he's sparring with a media that is quick to remind everyone that Jacksonville is 11-14 since a 62-7 rout of the Miami Dolphins in the 1999 playoffs.'

More than just a game [5:22 AM]Florida Times Union reports:
'True, but Johnson hasn't done enough since being traded to the Bills three years ago to make the Jaguars or their followers forget Aug. 31, 1997. Replacing an injured Mark Brunell, Johnson made his first NFL start a memorable one against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite leaving the game twice with a severe ankle sprain, Johnson completed 20 of 24 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 25 yards for a touchdown in the stirring, 28-27 Jacksonville victory.'

Jaguars notebook [5:21 AM]Florida Times Union reports:
'"It's a defense obviously we're familiar with because of Tennessee," Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell told Buffalo reporters this week. "You have to study. Coach Williams' scheme is not an easy one to play against. There are some unconventional [defensive] fronts, and they do different things with their safeties. They do things you don't normally see, like linebackers lined up in different positions."'

October 16, 2001

ESPN Power Poll - 28 [4:41 PM]ESPN reports:
28. Bills (0-4) (was 28) Week off came at a good time for Buffalo
Same three teams below us.

Moorman adds kick to Bills special teams [3:52 PM]AP reports:
'Moorman, who replaced steady veteran Chris Mohr, ranks second in the league, averaging 48.1 yards a punt, playing an important role on a team whose inexperienced and banged-up defense requires all the help it can get.'

Schottenheimer snubbed Levy refusing to let Bruce Smith attend HoF induction [3:11 PM]Slate reports:
Schottenheimer denied Smith permission to attend the Hall of Fame induction of former coach Marv Levy, because of jealousy of Marv's Bills besting Marty's Chiefs in the 1993 AFC championship game. The snub against Levy was both very, very small on Schottenheimer's part and got him off on such a bad footing with Smith, Washington's best player, that by early October, Bruce was denouncing Schottenheimer on-camera to ESPN's Andrea Kramer.

Johnson at a crossroads in Jacksonville return [2:29 PM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'As for his own fate, Johnson admits, "Obviously, I didn't expect to get hurt this much ... that's been my problem here. But I think over the last three years, I think I've played very good football ... winning football."'

2001 Buffalo Jills cheerleaders [2:00 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Some good things happened during the bye week. The Bills were able to place on their website pictures and profiles of the new Jills cheerleaders.

Bills continue work on Jaguars [12:57 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
"After watching yesterday's ballgames, getting a chance to see some of the things that took place, and you can see again, the division is wide open," Williams said. "Everyone in our division has at least two losses, we need to win in front of a national spotlight, and get on a roll right now. We have the opportunity to play emotional, the way we need to play when we get down there, and that is wide-open football and have a chance to get a win here."

Alex Van Pelt answers email questions [12:56 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
"I'd have to say have the guys have confidence in me. If you prepare yourself well, when you come into the game, you give off a feeling of confidence. If the guys believe in you, there's not a lot of drop off. Some places, if you're not prepared, and don't know how to call the plays in the huddle, or aren't familiar, the guys will say 'great.' When you've done your work and prepare as the starter, the guys respond well."

Johnson welcomes change of place [9:09 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I'm excited," he said. "I had some good times down there. I have some really good friends. . . . I'm just looking forward to having the chance to play against some of the guys I used to play with."'

Black ready for 'promotion' to wide receiver [9:08 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Black is expected to see more action with the offense Thursday when the Bills visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. McDaniel missed practice Monday with a high ankle sprain and likely will be sidelined against the Jags.'

Bills hope to 'maintain the course' [5:31 AM]D and C reports:
'So how can Williams keep this team from quitting? How can he keep their spirits up and get them to work harder, play better, and maybe win a few games during the final three-quarters of the season? "As a professional football player and as a coach you've got to maintain the course," Williams said yesterday during a break in preparation for Thursday night's nationally televised game in Jacksonville against the Jaguars. The logical question here would be 'What is the course?' because thus far, this team seems to be farther off course than Christopher Columbus when he set sail in 1492.'

Hansen could return for Jaguars game [5:30 AM]D and C reports:
'Still, Hansen's status for the Jaguars is questionable after he re-aggravated his injury in practice on Sunday. He was able to practice yesterday at the stadium but was still favoring the arm.'

True NFL fans won't bat an eye [5:29 AM]D and C reports:
'NFL Crazy Lenses, retailing for $120 to $150 a pair, are being sold as accessories, not to correct vision. They will initially be available in designs of a handful of teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.'